QBE targets personal lines with key appointment

QBE says its recruitment of former Youi CEO Frank Costigan signals a push for greater market share in personal lines.

As reported in a Breaking News bulletin last week, Mr Costigan will join QBE in November as EGM Consumer and Retail Partnerships.

QBE is the third-largest insurer in Australia, but is dwarfed in personal lines by Suncorp and IAG.

Australian and New Zealand CEO Vivek Bhatia says Mr Costigan brings “deep experience in personal lines, and his appointment “reflects the commitment we have at QBE to strengthen our position in personal lines in our home markets”.

He held executive roles at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and IAG before joining Youi in 2016.

Mr Costigan’s appointment is one of several confirmed by the company last week.

Eleanor Debelle, previously interim EGM consumer and retail partnerships, has been appointed Chief Human Resources Officer. Her predecessor in this role, Sally Kincaid, has moved to a group HR position.

Chris Killourhy has been formally appointed as the division’s CFO, having held the role on an interim basis since Inder Singh’s move to Group CFO in April.

Renee Roberts was named as COO in June, with interim COO Steve Raynor leaving the business. Fiona Hayes-St Clair was named Chief Strategy Officer – a new position – in July.